Project Freelancer

As CT removed Tex's helmet her eyes fluttered. The world became a fuzzy picture of light and dark until her eyes adjusted. Her emerald hues looked up to the Spartan as she felt the cloth dab against her face. “You’re all right.. You’re all right” The Spartan's voice was a low whisper, laced with care and concern. Tex looked up to her with fear in her eyes, "Wh-what happened?" She asked as her eyes moved to the lights of the ceiling, she then looked back to CT. "Who...are you?" Her memory was slipping. The hit from the AI unit had done something...it was hard to tell what, but, it seemed to have altered her memory. "Where am I?" She asked, but CT was already pinning Church against the wall. Tex's eyes slid shut then, for what seemed like hours, but it was only a matter of minutes before CT was over her again. “Come on Tex” The voice was muddy, as if said through water, it was muffled and hard to understand. Tex's eyes opened once more as she felt CT lifting her to her feet, she leaned heavily against the Spartan. "What's...happening?" She questioned through grit teeth, her entire body ached, she could feel blood running down her back beneath her armor from the bullet wounds. “I need a Medic” CT's voice echoed into her ears, it sounded so close, yet so far away. Tex stumbled and nearly fell as the Medics rushed her. She grasped onto CT for a moment before her knees gave out and she lay on the stretcher.

Everything became a blur from here. Tex was in and out of consciousness. She would wake to the feeling of the pliers pulling bullets from her back, and then, more drugs would be pushed into her body to stop her from screaming, to stop her from fighting. Each and every pain caused her to thrash and fight against the medics. She had no clue what was happening. No clue where she was...or even...who...her memory had slipped. If Ecko was not inserted soon with her memory, the Tex that CT and the other Spartans knew would be lost forever to a drooling vegetable of a being. The medics placed her armor carefully on a rack. One rushed around it, repairing the damage that had been dealt. "How did she survive? How did she keep fighting?" He asked as he mended a few of the plates of armor with a bright white light that mended the metal back together. "How is she even breathing right now?"

Tex made to move as her eyes stared to the shell of her spartan armor that stood to the side of her bed, though a medic pushed her back down and shook his head at her. "Not so fast, Agent Texas." He gave a soft smile, trying to reassure her. "You'll be back at it in no time, just relax."

Tex gave a slow nod just before one of the medics pulled at another bullet casing. Her eyes grew wide and she shot up out of the bed. She fell to her hands and knees, her breaths quick, her eyes shut tightly. The pain...the amount of pain she was in was incredible. How did she stay alive? How did she keep going? She thrashed when the medics tried to help, knocking over instruments before she stood. One of the medics rushed forward and stabbed a needle into the base of her neck. He injected a pale blue liquid into her body which caused her to crumple to the floor. "We need to work quickly, this won't last long." He said as they lifted her back to the cot and finished extracting the bullets.

***

Silva had followed CT into the room, her arms crossed loosely over her body, she watched closely as the Spartan begged to be put under. Then, once it was done she stepped forward and pulled the AI chip from the back of CT's helmet. "I'll get those memories out." She said softly, "I promise." She then left the infirmary, only stopping as she saw the medics placing Tex into a lock down chamber. It was much like hydro, though, without the fluid. Her wrists and ankles were shackled to keep her from harming herself or others. Tex's head lulled to the side in her unconscious state. "It'll be alright....little one..." Silva said as she touched the glass to the lock down chamber. "It'll be alright." She nodded and looked to the small chip in her hand. She then rushed toward her office. She ran in and sat down at her desk where she inserted the AI into its dock. Ecko's program instantly lit up on the screen and his hologram appeared. He was an average spartan in Mark V armor, a golden hue took over his appearance. He looked to Silva for a moment as she rubbed the bridge of her nose, she was chalk full of emotion. Don't worry, Silva. I can help. He said in a warm voice as he turned and looked to the coding on the screen. Vox was working on such a thing, the memory unit, to transfer human memories into an AI...at first he thought the idea crazy, but then, when he created me, he realized that it is possible with a hybrid AI like myself.

Silva looked to the small hologram before she began searching through the files. "What do I need to do, Ecko? Can you show me?" I certainly can. Just click here. Silva watched as the AI pointed to a section in the coding. You know this Silva, you worked on it with him, come on. Silva gave a nod as she began typing and erasing data. The AI disappeared eventually, leaving her alone in her office. She was so sucked into the project that she currently had at hand that she didn't even hear CT knock on her door. It wasn't until CT spoke the simple word Admiral, that she looked up from her computer. Her fingers hovered over the keys for a moment as she listened to CT's plea. As she listened to the Spartan explain that she was losing herself. Silva shut her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose once more, her brows furrowed. "I think, I know." She finally spoke before she turned back to the computer and continued typing. As a matter of fact.... Ecko appeared again, he faced CT. She is nearly done with the coding.

Silva fell silent once more as she erased a few more lines and jotted down new ones. She then pulled the chip and stood. "This may feel weird." She said as she moved around behind CT, "Just relax and let it happen, don't try to fight it." She then inserted Ecko into CT's helmet to extract the memories. "I hope this works..."

***

Meanwhile Tex thrashed against the restraints. "Let me go!!!! Whre am I..." She muttered the final bit, her voice quivered and shook.

Silva grasped the AI, she looked up slowly from the chip to see CT's retreating back. She sighed softly as she looked back down to it, "I'm sorry, Connecticut." She whispered before she settled back in her chair, she flipped the chip over and over in her fingers for a few moments before an alert popped up on her screen. Her eyes shifted to the LED lighting and to her surprise it was a warning about Tex. She jumped up and quickly ran through the compound toward the infirmary where she ran in on Tex in full armor rushing Washington. Tex had him pinned to the wall by the time Silva made it to the back of the Spartan. Her fists plunged into either side of him, repeatedly. Washington grunted and curled against the damage that he was enduring, he was afraid to fight back because he didn't even know if Tex meant what she was doing. He knew she didn't know what was going on from her screaming, from the fighting. Silva gripped Tex by the back of her neck and ripped her back. "Tex it's alright, calm down!" Silva landed on top of her friend, pinning her to the ground. Tex swung as Silva slipped the chip into the back of her helmet. Silva fell to the side gripping her jaw as she groaned.

Tex flipped to her hands and knees, she pushed herself up and headed toward Silva, about to attack when she staggered and gripped her helmet. Tex let out a cry before she fell to her knees in front of Silva. "Tex, it's alright, just relax, don't fight Ecko. Just breathe." Silva held the Spartan by her shoulders as she screamed in pain before she fell to her back. Tex curled and whimpered as her memories rushed before her eyes. The first memory that rushed into her vision was that of her childhood. The small Tex stood before her mother, tears welled up in her eyes. "Don't go mommy...please...don't go..." She tugged at the woman's uniform. "Mommy...you just got home..." Tears now rolled over her cheeks as the woman knelt before her and pulled her into a tight embrace. She was four. This was the last time she had seen her mother...it was so long ago...

Meanwhile Tex lay on her back, her body trembled. Silva had carefully removed her friend's helmet and held Tex's head in her lap to protect her from further injury. Tex's eyes were shut tightly, her teeth were clenched together. The pain was like a thousand volts coursing through her veins. It was something that could not be explained...

"Tex, just breathe, just breathe little one." Silva whispered as she brushed hair from her face gently.

Washington stepped forward and looked down on the two. "Is she going to be alright, Director Silva?" He asked.

Silva looked out and let out a slow sigh, she then looked up to Agent Washington, "I hope so." She whispered before she looked back down to the Spartan.

Church walked in then, he stood next to the group silently for a long moment before he looked over Tex's pained features. "Is that the AI?" He asked softly, "Is that Ecko that is causing the pain?" He only received a nod from Silva. "Did she hit you?" He added as he looked to the blood that ran down over her lips from her nose. Silva once more only nodded. Then the three fell into silence once more as Tex shook and trembled.

The memories of CAMS flashed before her eyes, her times spent sparring with Silva, the times she had beaten the other teams single handed. Then, her Spartan II training, she stood in the line with the six other Spartans, her eyes staring straight ahead. It was pouring down rain, lightening struck in the near distance, causing an earth shattering rumble to move the ground beneath them. Tex was the only recruit that didn't move, that didn't show a sign of fear. She was a true Spartan. She rose from her class to first in ranking, defeating all of her comrades in mock battles easily with her witty tactics. The next memories were that of Blood Gulch...of Church...and the others...then Project Freelancer....Omega...the director forcing her to take the AI. She remembered being terrified. For the first time in many years, she was truly afraid, because, almost instantly she could feel her memory slipping away. She could feel herself becoming a machine.

Tex sat up with a huge gasp. Her eyes were wide. She looked around the room, her eyes first fell on Church, he offered her his hand. "It's good to see you awake, Allison." He said with a smile in his voice.

Tex stood up quickly with his aid before she punched him in the gut, hard, this caused him to double over into her, his helmet pressed against her chest plate before she stepped back and grasped her helmet from the floor and put it on. "That's for not messaging me, asshole." She snapped then she turned. Her hues fell upon Silva. Her childhood friend, the closest thing to family she had ever had before Project Freelancer, before she had met CT. Tex froze for a moment as the Admiral looked back to her with a soft smile on her lips. "Chyler?" She asked, her voice filled with shock. Silva grinned then and nodded. Tex rushed forward and hugged herself to the Admiral. "It's been years!!" She exclaimed.

Silva chuckled as she pulled back from the Spartan. "It's good to have you back, Allison." She smiled, "Come, we've some catching up to do." She turned and headed from the room, Tex followed.

"Tex wait..." Church stated softly.

Tex stopped and looked over her shoulder, "You don't tell someone that you love them for years and then just stop talking to them. You never messaged me Leonard." She then turned and walked down the hall with Silva. "I see you've become an Admiral." Tex commented with a smile hidden within her helmet.

Silva let out a laugh, "yes, it didn't take me long." She grinned as she led the Spartan to her office. The two talked for hours, reminiscing on the past. CAMS. What had happened after the academy. Everything.

Tex eventually stood and gave a nod to her friend. "I've gotta find CT." She said before she left the room. She first looked in the barracks....then the training room...finally she stopped in the empty cafeteria. It had been a few hours since lunch, it was early afternoon and the smells of dinner sifted into her nostrils. "Where are you...?" She asked and sighed heavily. You're searching for, Connecticut, correct? Connie? Ecko asked. "Yes." Tex sighed as she sat down at the table that she normally shared with her friend. I have found her, she is just a few clicks north of here, on the beach. There is another beacon with her...it is a KIA beacon...I am uncertain of who it belongs to...Ecko spoke once more after a few moments of silence as he located the Spartan. Tex gave a nod before she stood. "Mark my radar." She ordered. Certainly, Allison.Ecko replied before a waypoint appeared in her HUD. Tex ran through the empty corridors of the facility, she shoved the back doors open and the heat of the outside hit her in the face like a ton of bricks. She didn't let it phase her as she rushed forward. She sprinted the entire distance until she came up behind CT and the body of the Commander. "Oh...god....Connie..." Tex fell to her knees next to her friend. "I'm...I..." She was at a loss for words. "Connie...I..." She slowly removed her helmet and set it beside her in the loose white sand. "I..." She looked to the bloody face of CT's father. "I know it doesn't fix anything...but I'm sorry..." She whispered finally, her words seemed to catch in her chest as she spoke.

Tex fought her own tears as CT pulled her into an embrace. "I'm not going anywhere." She whispered. Her eyes fell to their helmets that sat side by side in the sand as the rain cascaded down. She could feel the water droplets running over her skin, a few dripped into her eyes as she watched CT push the boat into the ocean. She bent down and pulled her helmet into her arms. She will be alright, Connie is strong. It's going to be okay, Allison. Ecko assured the Spartan as she looked at herself in her visor. Her hair was soaking wet. The red strands hung heavily down toward the helmet, droplets of water fell from her hair and onto the golden color of the visor. She sighed softly and pulled the helmet over her head, her cool hair pressed against her cheeks as the lights from her HUD flickered on. She reached up and pressed the button under the backside of her helmet to activate her lights as CT made her way back to the shore. Tex gave a nod to her comments of leaving the past in the past, so to speak. "We should have graduation coming up soon, then we will be on missions all the time I assume." She smiled beneath the helmet as she followed CT back to the compound and to the barracks. She slipped her helmet over her head as she watched her friend lay down and instantly fall into the arms of sleep.

Tex gave a soft sigh, "Sleep well Connie." She whispered before she stepped from the room. The hallways of the barracks were silent. It seemed to have been deserted by this time of night. Tex found her way to the training arena where she picked up her trusty pistol and DMR. She gave a nod to herself as she pushed the button for the simulation to begin. You're going to be vastly outnumbered with that setting, Allison. "I know." Tex brought her eyes up from the device as she looked out over the training room. The gray slate of the tiles slowly began to morph into a rolling landscape. Huge red boulders and lush green grass led to a compound that was buried underground. In the distance she could see huge satellites that roamed slowly, searching for signal. She pulled her DMR from her back and zoomed in on the complex, hostiles walked back and forth on the wall. She picked them off, one by one, headshot after headshot. You have seventy more hostiles... She then rushed forward and slipped down a manhole that took her through tight blackened tunnels into the compound. She silently made her way into the fort and dropped into a room behind one of the men. She stood up, and simultaneously grasped his head, jerking it roughly to the side. The sound of bone cracking to the pressure entered her ears as the body became limp. Tex smirked then as she continued onward. She came up behind another and stood, her knife found its way down between his collarbone and neck, the familiar crunch of knife against bone sounded thorough the room. Tex then spun as one tried to sneak up behind her, the knife reached out and sliced him across his throat. The man held his neck and fell to his knees as blood poured from the wound. He gagged and choked on his own fluid until his body fell limp as well. The round room seemed to fill with the enemy then. Tex pulled her pistols and began shooting, taking them out as bullet flew through the air toward her. She then felt something press against her back...You've acquired a teammate, his tag is blocked, I can not decipher his name for you, Allison.

Tex turned and looked over her shoulder to see a Spartan, his back was pressed against hers. He wore dark blue armor with a golden visor. His shoulder pads were enormous, something that could block several shots. "Just fight, Allison." He said as he began shooting the insurgents. She knew his voice, she looked back ahead of her and the two worked together as a team to finish off the last of the enemies.

"Point, Texas." The simulator spoke as the world melted away around them.

Tex turned and looked to this Spartan, she searched his visor before he slowly took his helmet off. "Vickers?!" She seemed to laugh. It was a reaction of joy. She threw her arms around his suit of armor and chuckled again. "In the matter of a few days I have reacquainted myself with my past."

Vickers smirked down at her, his blue hues searched hers. "I had to come Silva to help with the Director..." He chuckled then and shook his head as he looked to the clock upon the wall. It was 3AM. "I should get going, huh?"

Tex looked to the clock then gave a sigh. "I'm sure the Director has plans for us tomorrow." She nodded as she slipped from the training room. "Good fight." She said over her shoulder as she headed to the barracks.

Vickers grinned and caught up to her side. "You think so? I'm not nearly as good as CT, I'm sure."

Tex chuckled and shook her head, "You're good for a Spartan." She spoke as she stopped at the door to her room.

"Oh? You think." He grinned and looked through the open door behind her to CT. A soft smile formed on his lips then. "You have to introduce me to her, Allison." He looked down to her as she removed her helmet. "If you don't mind."

"Not at all." Tex looked over her shoulder a moment before she looked back to Vickers, "Good night Walt." She said before she entered the room. Tex shed her armor and lay down on her bed. She was instantly out...

***

The night seemed to pass within seconds as the reveille played over the speakers in the early morning hours. Tex stumbled from her bed and sleepily put on her armor. She shouldn't have stayed up so late. She stumbled about the room and eventually finished placing her armor. She then headed down the hall toward the cafeteria only to find the doors closed and locked. She looked around in confusion to the other Spartans. "Report to the training deck. All Project Freelancer Spartans must report to the training deck, immediately." It was Silva's voice that rang over the intercom. Tex turned and headed to the briefing room for the training arena. Silva stood upon the podium and soft smile on her lips. "Agent Texas, Agent Connecticut, and Agent Washington. You will be placed in a sudden death simulation against the Project Spartans. This is your final simulation. All other Agents I am sorry to inform you, you will not graduate today, your battle scores as well as your personable time outside of training have shown me that you are not ready to become a full fledged freelancer." Silva knew what South had done to the Commander. Silva seemed to know everything. She was great with computers, and thus, she was great with working the security cameras. She had reviewed the murder a thousand times over the past few hours. "All agents in training will not accept freelance missions without the consent of either myself or another freelancer in charge." She then gave a soft smile. "Agents, equip yourself and let the round begin. You will be pitted against the others for this final round. So I expect everyone to gear up and get on the battle field." Silva then stepped down from her podium. The room was silent. She was much more forward compared to Jenkins. She actually paid attention to detail.

Tex looked to CT and gave a nod before she geared herself up and stepped into the elevator. "Congratulations." Washington spoke, he pat CT on the shoulder before he bumped Tex playfully. The elevator descended with all of the Spartans. Tex looked to CT one last time before she stepped onto the blue and disappeared. It was a simple arena. Ramps and boxes. Two levels. Tex sprinted forward, the first spartan she contacted was South, whom she pinned to the ground and drove her knife into. South disappeared as Tex stood and shot down York and North. "Easy." She muttered as she sprinted off.

One after another Tex took them out. She had her pistol drawn, her accuracy was unmatched by the opponents. York fell, then Wyoming...North and South....Tex came around the corner and brought her elbow into Florida's face. He stumbled backward trying to regain his bearing but it was already too late. Tex shoved him against the wall with her forearm against his neck, she brought her knife into his helmet with force and he disappeared. She spun around then and tossed a sticky grenade, it flew through the air and landed smack dab in the middle of South's visor. She waved her arms around trying to get it off, but in the end she was blown away. Tex then pulled her DMR and zoomed in on the others that were fast approaching. One by one she picked them off easily with headshots. She was then grabbed from behind and slammed against the wall by South, just one second before the round ended. The chime sounded and South's grip on Tex loosened, she slid down the wall and her feet balanced her as she watched the Spartan walk away. "Point, Freelancers." The computer announced.

Tex chuckled as CT congratulated her, "You did the same." She said as she holstered her pistol.

Silva came over to the two after she shook Wash's hand. "Of course." She smiled to CT. "Come on you three." She motioned to Washington and led the three to the doors that led into the other section of the facility. She punched in the numbers and walked them down the long vacant hall. The sweet smell of cooking food sifted into the air. "I had the chef's whip up something special, just for you three." Silva smiled as she pushed the doors open to the old cafeteria. "You best get used to this side of the building. We will be using it now for Freelancer graduate purposes. There is a whole new barracks, training rooms, supply..." Silva stopped as she looked to the food line, "It may take a few days to get everything up an running, but, this will give us a chance to start having you three teach the recruits and the Spartans that did not pass." She then motioned toward the food. "Dig in." She walked from the room.

Washington grabbed one of the trays, an insignia was laser drilled into the metal. The freelancer symbol. He filled his plate with fresh sunny side up eggs, hash browns, bacon, oatmeal. It was all too good to pass up. The food was actually fresh. It hadn't been prepared a few hours ago, it had just been cooked. Tex was right behind him in the line, she too filled her plate before she glanced to CT. "It's different." She began. "The cafeteria is so quiet without the others." She then turned and made her way to the table the Washington had taken. It had three seats, just enough for the graduates. Silva had been up all night cleaning the cafeteria for them. She had also prepared three of the barracks rooms. Tex looked to CT as she took off her helmet. She then grinned at Washington before she dove into her food. It was delicious. She hadn't tasted something this good in a long while. She downed each bit until her plate was left clean. She then stood and pulled her helmet back on. "Let's check this place out." She said as she left the chow hall. She turned away from the way they had come. To their right was a huge pane of glass that over looked a garden in the middle of the circular building. Huge trees jutted up from the shadowy floor, a stream could be seen through a few cracks in the leaves.

Tex stopped outside the hallway to the barracks for a moment before she pushed inside. She traveled down the hall, the nameplates were all empty, the rooms dark. Then, she saw her name on one. Agent Texas it read in thick bold black writing. Tex stepped in front of the door, to which it slid out of the way. The lights turned on in the room and she stepped in. She had a computer and a desk. The bed was descent as well, not the thin rack bed she had been sleeping in. It was cozy, but not too small. Tex grinned when she saw another set of her armor sitting in the locker. Silva had really worked hard on this. Pieces of the Spartans were in their rooms. Things that they would enjoy. Silva had done her homework. She had read into CT's file, as well as Washington. She knew Tex, so that part wasn't hard.

"It's nice huh?" Silva said from the doorway.

Tex had set her helmet on the desk, she had a grin from ear to ear as she held a blade in her hand. "You worked hard on this, huh?" She asked without losing the smile. "Thanks Chyler." She hugged her friend into an embrace for a long moment.

"Of course." Silva said with a nod. "Come on, we've your graduation to kick off." She then stepped from the room and headed down the hall to a large arena. The other Spartans had been gathered there. Silva showed the three where to sit before she climbed onto the stage and ultimately to her podium. She looked to the three for a long silent moment before she began. "It doesn't matter how far you might rise. At some point you are bound to stumble. ... If you're constantly pushing yourself higher ... the law of averages, not to mention the Myth of Icarus, predicts that you will at some point fall. And when you do I want you to know this, remember this: There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction...the direction that these three agents chose was Project Freelancer. Each individual that sits before me has had their own trials, be it in training here at HQ, or at a previous time. These three pushed through those trials, they pushed through everything that was thrown at them and emerged victorious. They are freelancers now." She gave a nod, "The rest of you, along with the others that will come for training are recruits. You will listen to the Agents and you will obey their orders, as they are above you in chain now. At some point, you will all become freelancers." She said before she stepped down from her podium. She walked over to Washington first and placed an AI chip into his hand. Epsilon. Washington inserted the AI and gave a nod to the new director. She stopped in front of CT and smiled. "You each have a certificate that will be in your rooms when you return." She nodded before she walked off.

Tex stood slowly and looked to Washington and CT before she looked to the others whom disbursed. "When will we get our first mission?" She chuckled and shook her head.

Tex walked along the halls of the refurbished side of the compound. She smirked when she found a training room. Just what she wanted. As always. She ran her fingertips over the touch screen and smiled beneath the helmet. "Am I a machine?" She asked softly to the silent empty room. "Or am I just a well trained human being?" She bowed her head slightly. It all depends on how you look at it, Allison. Ecko spoke softly. From the eyes of a soldier, you're a damn good one. From the eyes of a simple citizen you are a well oiled and functioning machine. Not to mention, the armor makes you look like one...though, Allison, I don't think you're a machine at all... Tex gave a slight nod, "I don't remember what it is like...to not fight...I don't remember what it is like to not have adrenaline flowing through my blood every waking second...it's been so long, Ecko." She slipped to the floor, her knife in her hand, she flipped it around with a smirk on her lips. "It separates me...I'm not even sure where my mother and father have disappeared to now. I know they are alive, otherwise I would have gotten a letter, but, I haven't seen my mother since before CAMS." She sighed slightly as she looked to her reflection off of the metal. She traced the UNSC engraving on the blade with her fingertips. "I miss her...It's been so long, I don't even know her face..." Your separation from humanity causes you to be a stronger soldier, Allison. It sets you apart from the others, it makes you more lethal. Because you do not make the humanistic relations. They are just an enemy...As for you mother, she is alive and well aboard the UNSC Roman Blue. Tex shut her eyes lightly as she listened to the AI speak. Images of her past began to flood her vision.

"Daddy! Daddy!!!" The young Tex cried as she ran across the lawn on Reach. She slammed into him and was instantly wrapped in his arms and lifted up into the air, he hugged her tightly to his chest and kissed the side of her head. The sky was filled with grey rolling clouds and the scent of fresh rain, the air was cool and brisk against her skin. She giggled and buried her face against his neck, his warmth. "I missed you daddy!!" She said through her laughter. She was three here, just a tike.

"I missed you little one." He chuckled as he carried his daughter inside. He kissed Katheryn on her cheek before he walked into the home that smelled of freshly cooked food. "It smells delicious in here dear." He said as he set his daughter down in her high chair and secured her belt. He did all of this with a smile before he ruffled the fiery red hair of the tike. Her hair matched his, as well as her eyes. The only feature that she seemed to have gotten from her mother was her fair skin and button nose.

"Cam...I have to talk to you about something." Katheryn said softly, her voice was even, her eyes fixed on him.

He pulled his brows together as he watched her, he stepped to her and pulled her into an embrace before he kissed her sweetly on the lips. "What is it love?" He asked, worry in his voice. He looked to Allison whom watched with her big emerald hues before she giggled again, she didn't understand, she was too young.

She looked up to him, her expression still hard to read. "I have to go." She began. "The UNSC has ordered me out....I can't turn this down, Camdon."

"You can't..." He shook his head. "What about Ali? What will she do when we are both gone? How is she supposed to grow up...? I have already signed my contract..I...I'll be gone in a month!" His voice filled with a mix of fear and frustration. "How could you do this to our daughter Kathy? How?!"

"Cam...please...I..." Katheryn bowed her head and slipped from her arms, she stepped to Allison and gave a hurt smile to the toddler before she fixed the bib around her neck. "Cam, I had to." She turned and looked to him.

He stood in the same place she had left him, his expression the same. He didn't look to her. He balled his fists and shoved them into his pockets before he finally turned and shook his head. "She won't even know who her parents are!" He snapped, "I'll be home very seldom...I'm an ODST, I could die and you'll be out gallivanting on some ship somewhere! I thought you were going to resign once we had a child! I would have resigned!" He snapped before he stepped over to the two. He lifted Allison into his arms and hugged her close and kissed the side of her head. Tear ran down the toddlers cheeks and she sniffled slightly. The yelling had frightened her. "It's okay baby." He whispered as he left the room...

Tex took in a quick breath as her eyes shot open. She looked around the empty training room with wide eyes. She hadn't remembered that memory...she almost wished she didn't now. Her father had fought to keep by her side, he returned home as much as possible, but she hadn't seem him since her CAMS graduation. He was so proud of her. So proud that she was leaving to become a Spartan. The grin that he had plastered on his face. She couldn't describe it. It made her smile. It was too perfect....

Tex stood and punched a few buttons before she lifted a pistol from the rack. She then watched as walls appeared around her. It was a building. Close quarters. Just her style. Tex waited until the AI for the training room began to speak. "Round one. Begin." A long tone sounded and Tex crouched. She crept around as she watched the red dots appear on her map. This would be fun, this would be a challenge...

Meanwhile...

Vickers smiled beneath his helmet at the sight of CT in his office. He shook his head as she spoke quickly, when she held out her hand he immediately shook it. "It's quite alright, CT, there is no need for apologies." He watched her as she looked over her shoulder. Her words hit him in the gut, it twisted and turned like a knife stabbed into his body. He grit his teeth, the pain in her eyes. "Wait.." He reached after her but she was already gone. He sighed and shook his head before he went to the desk. He looked it over for a moment before he stared to the outside world, the lush green trees of the forest, the blue sky...Vickers then turned and rushed down the hallways, he punched in the code to the newly renovated side of the campus and made his way to CT's door. He stood just as he saw her place the picture beneath the keyboard. "I'm sorry for what happened to your father." He spoke, his voice gentle. He stayed where he was, it was as if there was an imaginary barrier that kept him from entering the room. His navy blue armor glistened in the light, the silver markings seemed to stick out. "You...might want this..." He said and slowly stepped forward. He had a wrinkled up photograph in his hand, it was something he had pulled from the Commander's locker. He had been the one assigned to clean it out after all. In the picture the Commander held the young CT in his arms and her mother Rin hugged herself to the two. It was a perfect moment of her past captured in a small Polaroid that he had kept in his armor thousands of times.

The Spartan waited until she took the photo before he lifted his helmet from his head. His dark brown hair was clean cut close to his head, his eyes were a lovely blue. He gave a soft smile. "I worked with your father a few times, before Project Freelancer." He broke his gaze from her and bit at his lip. "You're amazing....Uh..." He took in a breath, he had blurted this out, his eyes shifted to her and he gave an uneasy smirk. "He taught you well."

Over the intercom Silva's voice echoed into the halls. "Agent Texas to the Director's office, Agent Texas." The words bounced off of the empty walls.

Vickers furrowed his brows slightly and looked to the open door of CT's room. A few seconds later the steel Spartan sprinted by, headed toward the office. "I wonder what that is all about." He said then smirked to her. "I'm sure it's nothing, just Silva wanting to catch up with her old friend." He chuckled softly. He then shrugged slightly. "Well...I...should get out of your space, huh?" He stepped toward the door. "I'll let you get back to..." He paused, he wasn't sure what to say. "If you ever want to talk, about anything at all...I'm here." He gave another soft smile before he pulled on his helmet once more he then turned and made to leave.

Meanwhile...

"Allison." Silva spoke, "Come in, I've got something for you." She paced slightly, "Jenkins has issued a threat, against the headquarters, he says he is to infiltrate and destroy each and every last Spartan of Project Freelancer." She looked to her computer again, the email. It was written in haste. She looked back to Tex. "I hacked into his I.P. address and found his location. He tried to block it, but I broke through all of the walls and finally I pinpointed his location on the map here." She walked over to the wall and pointed to a red pin she had stuck into it. It was miles away, in the desert. "I need you to apprehend him, before he takes these steps. Before this becomes a whole big mess that we have to handle."

Tex gave a nod. "Of course." She smirked beneath her helmet. "What about CT? Is she coming?"

Silva shook her head. "No, I found another location that I need looked into. You're going to have to go at this solo, Allison. I have no doubt in this though, you'll be fine. It looks like Jenkins will be the only one at this location, from the mapping that I have done of the area." She walked back over the her computer and turned it. "The best route in is through the sewers." She zoomed in on the maps and pointed. "It's also the best way out. The pelican will drop you here." She pointed and gave a nod. "We can't have him suspicious that we are enroute, otherwise he may call reinforcements, and that is something that I don't want to risk. Especially with you alone." Silva gave a slight smile. "You are perfect for this job though, it'll be a lot of hand to hand." She then gave a nod. "Alright, go ahead and head to the bays, Alpha Niner is waiting for you to take you and drop you off safely. We can't waste time on this."

Tex gave another nod, "Of course. Understood. I won't let you down Silva." She turned and left down the hall to the armory where she picked up a DMR, a pistol, and a few sticky grenades. She grabbed the cloaking device and then hopped into the back of the Pelican. She watched as the ramp came up and locked shut before the machine lifted off into the air and took her on the way. It only took an hour or so to reach the desert, and then it was only another thirty minutes before the Pelican landed. "Good luck kid!" The pilot nodded as Tex hopped out the back and landed on the sandy hot desert floor with a thud. She gave a nod. "I'll signal you when I am ready for EVAC." She said as she started toward the compound that she could see in the distance. The heat slowed her down and caused disturbances in her vision. But, other than that, she felt fine. She ran along until she reached the grate in the ground that Silva had spoken of. The sewers. Tex took in a deep breath before she dropped down and began running along within the pitch black tunnels. She flicked on her lights as she sprinted forward. It was much cooler in here without the sun beating down upon her back.

Tex slid to a stop at a ladder then, she looked up and took in a deep breath, this was it. The entrance that Silva had marked for her in her HUD. She climbed quickly and slid the manhole cover out of the way before she popped her head up above ground. She looked around before she clicked her lights off. She then climbed up into the darkness of the warehouse. It was silent. Almost an ominous silent. She looked to the warheads that were lined up, ready to go. The threats were real. It was becoming ever more apparent that Jenkins was not bluffing as she walked passed the missiles. She quickly advanced through the empty halls until she made it to the door, the office that the I.P. had come from. She turned the knob easily and drew her pistol as she crept into the room. It was dark. Tex took a step forward into the blackness, the clicking of a keyboard sounded through the room. "So nice of you to join us, Agent." Jenkins' voice carried through the room. "Too bad you won't be staying around long." He chuckled just before flood lights turned on, blinding Tex.

She grit her teeth and stumbled back into the chest of someone. She flipped around and fired a few shots, blood splattered on the front of her helmet. The heat of a bullet entering her armor brought her up to speed with reality as she turned on her cloaking and ducked for cover. "I need EVAC now! It's a set up! I need EVAC!!" Tex cried into her COM.

"T-------er--------I--------ead--------ing------up---------repe-----ssin------" The broken words of Alpha Niner came over her COM. It was then that Tex's gut sank. She was alone....Don't panic, Allison. Just breathe, you aren't alone, you've got me. We can do this together. You've been outnumbered before. Ecko's voice calmed the Spartan slightly. They can't see as well as you can in the dark, lets see how they feel about the lights blowing out. Ecko chuckled just before the sound of a transformer overheating popped through the room. The lights then flickered before going out completely. Tex took in a deep breath before she climbed from her cover, firing several shots, clipping some, and catching others right between the eyes....

It was like the world had become a scene from a movie. Everything seemed to slow as Tex leaped over the wall that she had hid behind. Her knees tucked in as she pulled her pistols, the flashes from the dark void of the room seemed to stun her enemies further. When her feet landed on the ground she rushed forward in a full sprint just as she fired the last of either shots from her pistols. She pressed the release on the clip for both guns. The heavy metal slipped from the slides and clicked on the floors just before she placed the new clips into the empty chambers.

"Te------I------tack------pull------out-------ood------lu----" The broken transmission came through Tex's COM channel as she slammed her elbow into the side of one of the insurgents. She flipped around and fired more rounds before the familiar click of an empty weapon sounded in her ears. She grit her teeth before she rushed forward and slammed the soldier to his back. She landed on top of him and bashed the butt of her pistol into his face several times until it was nothing but a bloody mush. Control yourself, Allison. Ecko ordered. You've got more targets inbound on your position. I can't keep these lights out forever. You need to move! "Got it." Tex said as she holstered her empty pistols. She sprinted from the room and rushed down the hall. The pain hit her first. It was hot. Like an iron placed right between her shoulder blades. It was only after the pain had sunk into her nerves that she heard the shot. It was a familiar sound. The sound of a training pistol. Only a second later she felt two more hot spots in her armor, both at the backs of either knees. Within the next few seconds she felt her armor tighten and freeze mid sprint. After this, she slammed into the cold tile floor. Tex struggled to flip to her back where she pulled her DMR. She took in ragged breaths, the shot that had been fired into her back was constricting her muscles of movement, making it hard for her to breathe. Tex managed to take out five more targets with perfect precision. Blood splattered onto the stark white walls. Tex's breaths seemed to echo through the room as she felt herself lifted up off of the floor. Her DMR fell onto the tile, the sound of the metal bouncing against the ceramic floor deafened her...she grasped onto the head of her attacker and found herself staring into the eyes of an elite. Tex scrambled in his grasp as he held onto her chest piece with one large hand. His other was pulled back with an energy sword, ready for the attack. She threw a right hook into the side of his head, then a left upper cut before he dropped her to the floor. Tex collapsed, her armor was still frozen.

"Don't kill her, that takes all the fun out of it." Tex looked up to the sound of Jenkins' voice just as several rounds of the training pistol were shot into her body, wielding her into unconsciousness...

Meanwhile back at HQ....

"Director! This is Alpha Niner calling in for assistance! We have lost all COM status with Agent Texas. Do you read?" The pelican's pilot spoke over the COMs in the director's office.

Silva sat with Washington across the desk from her. She had just been speaking to him of sending him in behind Tex. It would take minutes. He would catch up to her and assist her. "I read you loud and clear Alpha Niner. What is your situation? Are you safe?" Her brows pinched together with worry. She knew she should have sent two. She knew she shouldn't have split them up. But, she also knew Tex and CT could handle it. They could keep safe and come out alive.

"My situation is a lot better than Agent Texas, Ma'am! She sounded distressed over the radio traffic."

"Alpha Niner, come pick up Agent Washingtion, we will send him in for back up to Agent Texas. Do you copy?"

"Ten four I copy your radio traffic ma'am, I am headed out now." The COMs went silent, though, this silence only lasted long enough for Silva to direct her attention to Washington once more before static came over the COMs again. "I'm hit! I'm hit! Mayday! Mayday! I can't pull up! I can't avoid it! Mayday! I'm hit!!"

"Alpha Niner!!" Silva nearly yelled into the COMs. "Alpha Niner?!!!"

"He's gone." Washington whispered as he stood. "We're all going to be gone if you keep splitting us up. Tex is probably dead. Because of you!" He slammed the door to her office open and marched from the room, he sprinted down the hall toward the hanger bay and hopped into a Sabre and began clicking buttons.

Silva sat at her desk, her eyes expression had filled with guilt. Her eyes fell to a picture she had placed on her desk of her CAMs group. Tex had hugged herself to Silva in this one. Everyone looked happy. Such bright futures. So much to fight for.

"Silva, I'm setting my coordinates to Tex's location. I received intel that Tex is in major trouble, their plan was to get us apart and kill us. Do you copy?"

CT's voice over the COMs caused Silva to snap back to reality. Her expression hardened. She couldn't let CT dive in. She couldn't let another Spartan perish to Jenkins' attack. "CT, I read you loud and clear. I can not allow that. We have already lost contact with Agent Texas and we have lost Alpha Niner, the Pelican that took her into the drop zone. You're coming home Spartan." She then clicked off her headset. She wasn't going to argue and she knew CT would. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she sat in thought. She then clicked on her headset once more. "Agent Connecticut, you will be allowed to infiltrate as soon as we regain contact with your partner, until then, you will remain at headquarters. I can't risk losing both of you...." Her last words shook, a deep sadness overtook the tone of the Director's voice. She had already accepted that her childhood friend, her adopted sister...was dead....and it was her fault....

Back at ground zero...

Tex's eyes cracked open to find herself sitting in a dimly lit room, the lamp above her head swung back and forth ever so slightly. Her wrists were bound with the cold metal of cuffs and her ankles were bound to the metal chair beneath her. She flexed and the rope whined against her strength. The chain links of the cuffs clicked as she pulled against them, a pin came out of the cuff lock. Something she could use to get herself free. "Looks like she's coming to." A muddied voice chuckled.

"About time." Even through the fuzz of her hearing Tex could make out Jenkins' voice. Her eyes lifted slowly to see him before her. Behind her back she toyed with the ropes as she looked about the room. It was a closet of some sort. She saw her armor piled up on a shelf with cleaning supplies. Her helmet was dark. Had they taken Ecko? "Tell me Tex." The old director grasped her tightly around her neck as she attempted to get the ropes to loosen, she choked easily without her armor. "Why doesn't Ecko work? Hm?" He leaned down and narrowed his eyes. "What did you do to it? Why won't it work?" Jenkins had his arms crossed as he stared down to her, Tex didn't answer. She didn't even utter a word as she stared to the wall behind him. He backhanded her harshly, causing a bruise to appear on her right cheek bone. This only resulted in a slow steady sigh from the Spartan. "Tell me, Allison!" He snapped as he grabbed her around her throat once more. He grabbed her so harshly that the chair tilted back and the crown of her head pressed against the wall. She used this moment to get her ankles free from the chair, though she immediately sucked her feet back against the legs just like she was still tied in. Jenkins backhanded her again, causing her skin to turn a dark reddish purple, her head turned to the side and she stared to the ground. "You're fucked, Allison. Just give it up already." He grabbed her throat and stared into her eyes. "You're not getting out of this alive. I have Ecko. Just across the hall. You're not getting it back. That AI was mine to begin with. I deserve it. Now tell me what you did to it!" He slammed her against the wall again, her head cracked the drywall and she leaned forward in the chair as her head began to throb from the pain.

"She isn't going to talk, Director." The soldier in the corner spoke.

"I see." He let out a soft chuckle. "A true Freelancer agent. Don't tell anyone anything. Right?" He scoffed, "We'll just have to do this the hard way, hm?" He smirked then as he nodded to the soldier whom left the room. "Lets see if my friend here can get you to talk before I kill you." He spoke as he opened the door and another soldier walked into the room. This guy gave a smirk before he watched the director leave. The soldier then locked the bolt into place before he pulled a few items from the shelf and began mixing something on the table he stood before. "I know you weigh 55 kilos, Allison. The director told me this, in preparation, just in case you chose not to speak to us." He looked over his shoulder to the seemingly spaced out Spartan, she continued to work at the locks of the cuffs, almost there... "If you choose to talk, this would be a lot easier." He turned back around and continued mixing.

Tex grasped the cuffs in her hands. She hopped up from the chair and quickly advanced behind him. She grasped the man by his hand, twisting it, causing an immense amount of pain as she grasped him under his jaw with her other hand. "Look I'm not feeling too well after getting bashed around, so lets try to do this the easy way, hm? Where is Ecko?"

"Oh...God...please..." The man nearly cried as he leaned back against her.

"Wrong answer, now tell me before I cut you a second smile." Tex spoke in such a calm collected voice it made it that much more terrifying for the man.

"I-If you cross the hall here...there is a lab...Ecko...it's...it's in there...in the big computer in the middle of the room....it...it won't work...They've been trying it for hours....I...I...."

"Good." Tex spoke just before she snapped his neck in one swift motion. "Oops." She looked to the concoction that the man had been brewing, it would have killed her alright...she turned and pieced her armor together upon her body before she pulled her helmet on. It felt empty without Ecko, almost like something was missing. She searched the man and pulled a knife from his body before she crept into the hallway. It was silent. She kept low as she moved down the hall quickly, her ribs burned, her jaw ached. She knew she had been beaten in her sleep. She could feel it. She turned a corner and froze in the shadows, three soldiers, one was an elite. How had the director gotten in with the covenant? She shook her head, that didn't matter. Getting Ecko and getting out...that was what mattered.

Tex waited in the shadows until the two soldiers went into the lab, leaving the Elite alone. He began walking down the hall and the Spartan took this as her chance. She sprinted forward and scaled his back, her legs wrapped around his abdomen and her knife slammed into his chest before she snapped his neck, for safe measure. She then ripped the blade from him, blue blood splattered the floor as she stood. "One down." She whispered to herself before she lifted his carbine into her hands. It would work. She wasn't fond of their weapons, but it was something she knew she would need. Tex made her way into the room then, she crept along, her eyes found just four soldiers, and Jenkins at the table in the middle....where Ecko was. "Damn piece of shit! What did that Spartan do to this?!" A glass flew across the room and shattered from Jenkins' rage. Tex bit her lip slightly, she hoped they hadn't damaged Ecko when they removed him from her helmet. She pressed her body against the back of a desk as she waited for one of the soldiers, she grabbed him once he was close enough and slit his throat. A gasp came from behind her. Another soldier had appeared without her noticing. He drew his weapon and fired a few shots. "What are you doing?!!" The director snapped.

"The spartan!!" The soldier reloaded his pistol. "It's that Spartan! She's out!"

Tex poked her head around the corner and shot three rounds, one to his head and two to his chest. The soldier fell to the ground. The others were aimed in on her and began to fire. She rolled behind her cover and shot across the room. She took them out with ease and started for the director. He panicked and ran from the room, he fired off rounds from his pistol as he retreated. Tex looked to the desk and sighed in relief, Ecko was still in the slot. She carefully removed the AI chip and placed it back into her helmet. "Ecko?" She asked, her voice hopeful. Allison, good show. Next time, lets not get caught in the cross fire and end up hostage. Sound like a plan? Ecko chuckled. She sighed with relief before she took chuckled and started after the director. "Good plan, Ecko. Now where did Jenkins go?" She began to question just as alarms began to sound. Jenkins location is the least of our worries, Allison. We need to retreat. When I was plugged into the computer I hacked the system and sent files to Silva, she should be receiving them shortly. I gave her a drop location to pick us up from, it is well out of this area, we're going to have to make a run for it and pray that they don't trail us. Alpha Niner was killed in action, they shot him down....We have to move agent....now!

Tex gave a nod before she ran from the room, she watched as covenant began to flood into the halls. She grit her teeth as she raised her carbine and shot a few down. "We need a better escape route!" Got it, take a left here. Head down the hall and hope into the service corridor, it will take us down to the lower levels into the sewers like before. We should be safe. "Thanks!" Tex said as she sprinted through the halls, she eventually dropped down into the service tunnels and ran through the concrete passageways until she came out into the desert. She huffed as she looked back, the compound was no where in sight. She then turned and ran for another good hour or so before she came up on the spot that Ecko had marked on her map. She fell to her knees then to her hands before she finally collapsed from exhaustion. Silva, this is Ecko, where is our Evac?! We have made it out safe and sound.

Silva sat at her desk with a warm smile on her lips to the sound of Ecko's voice. "Perfect, the pelican is already on its way with CT. Thank you Ecko."

Tex rolled to her back as her eyes threatened to close. "It's...so warm..." She whispered just before she passed out...

As Ct lifted Tex into her arms Tex moved slightly, her muscles contracted then relaxed. Pulse is 170 and thready, BP is 110/68, respiration at 24 and slowing. Ecko spat out the numbers just as soon as CT had demanded them. She will be alright. The AI appeared in a hologram. He looked to Tex's motionless body then to CT. She took out forty three enemies, alone...I honestly couldn't believe it, I've never seen a Spartan capable of such speed and precision. He shook his head just before the scene played out. The missile. CT was quick. Just as quick as Tex could be with close hand, but with a sniper. Great job, CT. Ecko congratulated before he disappeared back into Tex's helmet.

By this time the medics had assembled and were quickly pulling bits and pieces of Tex's armor from her body. "BP is 112 over palp, pulse is 160, respiration is 18." One spoke quickly as she took the vitals in succession. "She's just exhausted." Another said, "The heat of the desert can do that to anyone." Another spoke quickly as he lifted her chest plate. They then carefully pulled her helmet off to reveal Tex's face. She had rosy pink cheeks and cool to touch skin. "Get an IV in her now!" One ordered as he spiked a bag. Everything happened so quickly. Tex's head lulled to the side as they squeezed her hands and inflicted pain to try to get a response from the Spartan. Nothing. She was out cold. One of the medics grit his teeth slightly as he slid the 14 gauge needle under Tex's skin. Blood flashed up into the catheter before he slipped the tubing onto the end and tossed the used needle into the sharps bin. My suspicion is that it is heat exhaustion. Ecko appeared in a hologram near Tex's armor. He had his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he watched the medics rushing about. They didn't answer him. Most were pulled into the moment as Tex's body convulsed slightly. The heat of the desert had gotten into her armor, like a wave it pushed beneath the plating and wrapped around her. The heat was like a blanket, it suffocated her in a way. Her body couldn't react. Not after what she had just been through...

Meanwhile in Silva's office...

Silva looked up from her paperwork as CT stepped into her office. She watched the Spartan silently for a long moment before she gave a nod. "The AI will be destroyed after I look through the files on it on a protected computer." She gave a soft smile when CT spoke of Tex. "I know I shouldn't have split you two up. I knew you could handle it. I knew you two would be alright. But, I know I shouldn't split you up." She gave a nod. "I'm placing a lock down on the facility, no one goes in or out without my knowing." She said before she turned back to her computer and began clicking away quickly, the AI chip sat on her desk next to her arm. She stopped typing for a moment after CT had left and rubbed her eyes before she pinched the bridge of her nose. "South." She muttered to herself. She now had to inform the family of the death of this Spartan. She pulled up the file of the young Spartan and sighed softly. Her only surviving family was Agent North. She stood and left her office, the AI chip in her pocket. She walked down the hallway with a bit of a cloud that hung over her head. This was what she hated about working in the special projects. The deaths. She, being the admiral, had to deliver the news each and every time. She walked to the end of North's rack in the barracks and looked to him. He looked to her and his brows pulled together. But he didn't speak. It was almost as if he knew. "I'm sorry." She whispered softly. "South was killed in action. You can go through her things, get what you want. I will have her locker emptied tomorrow." Silva nearly whispered this, her voice threatened to crack as she saw the wave of sadness wash over the Spartan before her. "You can take a few days from training if you wish." She gave a nod before she then left down the hall. She punched the code into the door that led her to the renovated side of the building. She stepped through the halls quickly until she reached a computer room in the back of the compound.

Silva sat down at the desk and gave a slight sigh before she pressed the AI chip into the computer. "Hm." She hummed as she looked over the code work. It was just as CT had expected. A dummy. A chip meant to hack the system and corrode files. Though, Silva had accessed it on a computer that was off network, one that had plenty of protection. She typed away and looked over the screen. She paused as she ran her fingers along the tan line that her ring used to take up. Her mind raced as she looked over the coding of the chip. She eventually found a location. One that was concrete, it was something she was never meant to uncover. She clicked the file and pulled it up on the mapping system. The destination was located on the planet Sanghelios. It was in a compound of some sort. Not UNSC like the others. Silva shook her head and slipped the chip from the computer into her pocket.

Meanwhile in the Commander's office...

Vickers sat at his desk, his helmet sat on the filing cabinet to his side. He was looking over files that Silva had given him to look into. Files to pinpoint the location of Jenkins and Meta. He looked up to CT's soft knock. "Come in." He said just before she entered, he smiled when his eyes caught her armor. "CT, it's good to see you." He said, giving her his full attention. He furrowed his brows slightly, "Yes, of course." He nodded to her comment about the other Spartans. "Silva and I will make sure to keep them all in check..." He sighed heavily and shook his head. "She should have known better." He grumbled slightly. He then grinned when she spoke of her mission. "I bet that would be a treat to watch." He chuckled. "I'm sure you did excellent." He nodded just before she left. He made his way to the infirmary where he found Silva. "Admiral." He spoke with a nod though his helmet.

Silva looked to him and gave a half smile. She stood over the still motionless Tex. "This is my fault." She shook her head.

Vickers sighed as he looked to the Spartan. "You can't blame yourself. CT and Tex both knew it could be a trap. Neither of them questioned you." He gave a slight nod before he looked back to the Admiral. "We just have to keep ahead of the game, ahead of Jenkins and Meta...if we can. We have to listen to our Spartans, if they have input we need to go with it, research it. We can't let it fall on deaf ears. This isn't training." He smirked as he pulled his helmet off. "You'll do great as the Director, Silva, you just have to slow down a bit."

Silva gave a nod as she looked to Tex once more. A medic walked into the room and began checking the monitors. "Give me a run down." Silva spoke to the girl as she scribbled a few things down.

"She'll be just fine, she has a bit of heat stroke...her head will hurt when she wakes, and she might be a bit nauseous, but we have replaced her fluids, so she should be back to normal in a few...her pulse has come down quite a bit, so that is a good sign, and her respiration is almost normal again." She gave a soft smile before she dipped from the room.

Silva sighed as she looked back to Tex, her arms crossed over her chest. "What do we do about the undergrads, Vickers? All I can think of is a lock down..." She shook her head.

"I will cover that, the lock down isn't such a bad idea. No one in or out unless authorized. It will keep them safe and keep them from contracting out with Jenkins...and hopefully prevent any more unnecessary casualties..."

It was then that CT rushed into the room. Both Silva and Vickers gave their undivided attention to the Spartan as she spoke quickly. Silva made to speak just as CT turned and left the room. She furrowed his brows as she watched Vickers chase after the Spartan. "Wait up." He said softly as he made it to her side. "We can do this." He gave a soft smile, his hand against her back. "We won't let anything else happen that is unnecessary, alright? You have my word." He stood before her, his dark blue hues searched her visor.

Meanwhile..

Tex's eyes cracked open and she winced as her head began to throb. Silva turned and placed her hand on her friend's forehead. "Shhh, it's alright, Allison." She whispered. "You're safe."

Tex looked up to the director and then shut her eyes tightly, "What happened?" She groaned as she sat up slowly. "I remember running...." You kicked ass and we ran to the EVAC point like hell and you got too hot from the desert heat and passed out. CT came and saved you. Ecko appeared near her armor. Tex looked to Ecko and gave a nod as she stood and began sliding her armor back over her legs. She clipped the pieces together.

"Are you sure you should be up?" Silva asked as she followed Tex with the IV stand. "You've been out for a good while..."

Tex gave a soft smile as she pulled on her chest piece. "I can't give up just because the heat got to me." She chuckled before she pulled her helmet over her head. The lights in the HUD came to life and Ecko disappeared back into her helmet. "Besides, I have to go thank CT." She nodded.

"Wait." Silva said as she stood in front of the Spartan. "Your mother."

Tex froze. Her attention turned to Silva then, she seemed to even stop breathing as she stood there. "What...about her?" She finally asked.

"CT thinks she will be Jenkins' next target...I'm going to go look into everything right now. You should get a hold of her, Allison. Just in case...you know..." Silva spoke her last bit of words carefully as Tex still hadn't moved.

"No, she won't die. He won't touch her." Tex said after another silent moment. "I'll kill him first." She said before she pushed passed Silva and headed down the hallway toward her barracks. She stood outside of CT's room for a moment before she knocked, "Connie?" She asked, her voice soft. She stepped in slowly and pulled her helmet off. "Thanks for saving me." She said with a curve in her lips. She looked out the window, a storm was brewing, a light rainfall had begun to spatter upon the glass of the window. "I...got into a few tight situations, I bet it wouldn't have happened if we were together." She kept the smile on her lips. "We're a good team, one of the best...well the best really." She chuckled then shook her head. "So...thanks, Connie...I um...I'm going to try to get a hold of my mother, Silva said you think Jenkins is going to try to kill her..." Her voice trailed off then, her smile left her features. She pulled her helmet back over her head and sighed. She was having a hard time controlling her emotions, especially with the thought of her mother being in danger in the back of her mind. It didn't matter how long it had been since she saw Katheryn, she still loved her dearly and she still thought of her often.

Tex slipped from the room and stepped into her own she sat down at her desk and began typing away. "Ecko, do you have a way for me to get a hold of my mother?" She asked, her voice was monotonous. I've her COM signal here. The number displayed before Tex's HUD. "Thanks." She said as she punched in the number on her computer. The screen went black as the connection was attempted, then, when the lights came back on there her mother sat in her UNSC uniform. "Mother..." Tex whispered.

"Allison?" Kathryn asked as a grin split her lips.

Tex grinned as she lifted her helmet from her head, she nodded as she fought back tears of joy. It had been so long. "Yes mother." She nodded as she set her helmet to the side.

"I was told of your advances." She grinned still. "You're doing great my dear. So many achievements for such a young age. I'm sorry I missed your birthday this year...." She bowed her head slightly. Kathryn always sent Tex a card, or something. This year, she hadn't. "I've been busy, you know how it goes..."

"Things never change." Tex gave a soft smile. "It's okay...I um...The man Jenkins, he used to be the director here..."

"Ahh yes Jenkins, I've heard of him...go on.."

"It's possible that with the complications of my last mission that he may target you as revenge. I want you to alert everyone on your ship and have everyone prepared, just in case..."

"Oh...I see..." Kathryn gave a nod. "We're pretty far out here, are you sure?" She asked and only received a nod from her daughter. "Alright, I will make preparations. I can break away from the ship and come to your HQ as well, if that would be safer. What do you think, Allison?"

Tex gave a soft smile and then nodded, "Either way, it would be nice to see you again." She whispered.

Kathryn looked over her shoulder and nodded to someone off of the camera. "Alright, sweetie. Look I have to go. I will do my best. In the least I will get everyone on high alert." She smiled weakly, "I love you." She spoke these words with a heavy heart before she turned off the monitor, breaking the connection.

Tex clung to those three words. She sat motionless for several long minutes before she finally stood and pulled her helmet back on. She bit at her lip slightly as she stood there, she was at a loss. She knew her world would collapse if her mother died. It was then that she began to wonder how CT was doing. Was she handling things okay? Tex stepped from the room and knocked on CT's door. "Are you okay?" She asked softly.

Meanwhile...

Silva pulled up some of the files that Ecko had transferred to her from the mission. The specs on the missiles. It was evident that Jenkins had more on his mind than revenge. Some of the coordinates for the missiles were other UNSC compounds. Silva quickly began to send out warning emails to the other compounds. She typed quickly, her fingers could hardly keep up with her as she worded the emails, each had ATTN at the top line. She soon hit send on each one, that being six other compounds besides Project Freelancer. Seven in total. She rummaged through the files that Ecko sent her and stumbled upon Kathryn Mehaffey. Her gut seemed to twist as she looked over all of the information that Jenkins had compiled on the mother of Tex. It went back all the way into her childhood. The only way he had gotten this much information must have been from Omega. He had been copying the memories over into his own units for intel on the Spartan. She eventually took in a long deep breath as she found the plans that Jenkins had put into place. "Agents Connecticut and Texas, to the director's office." She called over the intercom. She clicked about on her computer as she waited for the two to arrive. As the two stepped in Silva gave a slight nod. "Come on in...I'm sending you two to the UNSC Savannah. They just recently transferred your mother there." She looked to Tex. "I feel like this is our best option. You two will head there and bring her back here where we have a bit more protection. Jenkins plans to board the ship and try to take her by force....it's in his notes here..." She turned her monitor around. "So, if that happens, you two will be there to stop it and protect Kathryn." She gave a nod. "I readied your pelican, so whenever you're ready, I placed your weapons into the back of it already." She nodded and then turned her monitor back around and began typing more, breaking through the codes and looking for more information.

Tex stood and looked to CT before she gave a nod and headed to the hanger bay. She stepped up into the Pelican and pulled her pistols into her hands. The moment where she had run out of ammo flashed before her vision. She had been terrified. She had never been in such a situation before. She took in a deep breath as the Pelican began to lift into the sky. "We got this." She nodded to CT.